高级汉译英及英语写作--系列讲座（八）
在英语写作或汉译英时，如何突出句中的重要信息？（二）
1938 年 12 月,以国民党副主席、中央政治局主席、最高国防会议副主席、国民党人民政府
委员会主席汪精卫为首的亲日国民党集团，公开向日本人投降。
The pro-Japanese Kuomingtang group, headed by Wangjingwei, vice-president of the
KMT, chairman of the Centra Political Council, vice-chairman of the Supreme National
Defense Conference, and chairman of the People's Political Council of the
Kuomingtang, openly capitulated to the Japanese in December 1938.
汉语句子里面有3个信息：时间、人物、事件。这句话是在讲述一个历史事件，最重要的信息
应该是事件。根据前面讲过的英语“尾重句”原则，重要信息“事件”应该放在句尾。外籍专
家修改如下：
In December 1938, the pro-Japanese Kuomingtang group, headed by Wangjingwei,
vice-president of the KMT, chairman of the Centra Political Council, vice-chairman of
the Supreme National Defense Conference, and chairman of the People's Political
Council of the Kuomingtang, openly capitulated to the Japanese.
2.预计明年我军在高峰时将达到550万人。
It is estimated that our army will reach 5, 500,000 at its peak next year.
同上，这句话的重点信息是“达到550万人”，需要把状语前移。如果移到句首，又犯了我们
前面讲过的逻辑错误。
因此外籍专家调整如下：
It is estimated that at its peak next year, our army will reach 5, 500,000 .
3. 由于我们过去八个月的工作，我们在北满洲取得了主动权。
We have gained the initiative in Northern Manchruria as a result of our work over the
past eight months.
同上，事件是重要信息。外籍专家对英译调整如下：
As a result of our work over the past eight months, we have gained the initiative in
Northern Manchruria .
4.总体来说，尽管又出现了巨额赤字，但明年政府的财务状况将比今年好得多。
Roughly speaking, the government will be in much better financial shape next year
than this, despite another enormous deficit.
同上，句中重要信息是后面的事件。
外籍专家修改如下：
Roughly speaking, despite another enormous deficit，the government will be in
much better financial shape next year than this.
读完了上面几句的修改，大家可能会感觉这么容易。事实上，在实际应用中远比这复杂的多，
后面会逐一解释。
